We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Deputy Manager to support the day-to-day leadership of our nursery and help create a nurturing, safe, and stimulating environment where every child can thrive.

In this role, you will work  to ensure the highest standards of care, learning, safeguarding, and wellbeing for all children. You will play a key role in leading practice across the nursery, supporting staff development, and fostering an inclusive environment that promotes children's physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development.

Key Responsibilities

• Amending planning daily in line with child interest, teachable moments and needs of the children
• Communicating about any resources needed to implement curriculum
• Model participation in planning meetings
• Lead implementation of planning in the room across the week
• Plan out environmental enhancements with room team and lead on creation of these in line with project planning
• Lead 'look and feel' in room, giving feedback to staff if they are not aligned with vision
• Support staff to implement the 'Ark Start way'
• Leading setting visits for children joining their room
• Completing show arounds for prospective parents
• Meet with parents alongside play partner if needed to support difficult conversations
• Ensure welcoming and open culture with parents
• Be aware of services and support for families and signpost where appropriate
• Model professionalism and escalate any concerns
• Model all policies being followed in room
• Ensure staff are following policies and procedures and escalating any issues or concerns
• Ensure that opening and closing checklists are completed daily
• Report any procedural issues around compliance to the Nursery Manager
• Keep Famly updated
• Support staff in room to write initial concerns
• Alongside the SENDco, write IEPs
• Support staff to implement IEP targets
• Escalate where additional support is required

Other

• Actively promote the safety and welfare of our children and young people
• Ensure compliance with Ark Start data protection rules and procedures
• Liaise with colleagues and external contacts at all levels of seniority with confidence, tact, and diplomacy
• Work with colleagues and other nurseries and schools in the Ark network, to establish good practice, offering support where required.

• A Real Living Wage Employer: We are a Real Living Wage employer with a minimum salary of £13.81 per hour for all roles in London. We also pay 11% pension contributions
• Ongoing Learning: We are committed to providing the best development for all our staff. We work hard to ensure there are clear career progression routes
• Annual leave: We are proud of our staff and want everyone to feel valued for playing their part. That’s why staff receive 25 days holiday each year, excluding bank holidays
• Wellbeing: Staff wellbeing is incredibly important to us. We know that while incredibly rewarding, working in a nursery can be challenging. We therefore work hard to ensure all staff have the support and infrastructure they need to take care of their wellbeing
• Part of a Network: Ark Start is part of Ark, a charity that aims to transform children’s lives through education. Ark operates a network of 39 schools across London, Birmingham, Portsmouth, and Hastings as well as a number of charitable ventures. Being part of a network means our staff get access to the opportunities, infrastructure, and support of a large organisation.

Our dedicated team work together to ensure that every child has a joyful, engaging, and secure nursery experience and leaves us ready to start school happily and confidently. We are driven by our values in everything we do: Aim High, Be Brave, Be Kind and Keep Learning.

Ark Start is at an exciting time in its evolution. We opened two nurseries in South London last year and aim to expand our reach over the coming years. As we expand, we are looking for Early Childhood Educator to join our founding team. We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for young children and with the skill, creativity, commitment, and energy to deliver excellent provision at Ark Start.